Data sending/receiving method and apparatus, data receiving apparatus and data sending apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sending receiving method for data, such as musical data, in which plural data stored in a first storage unit are retrieved based on the request information sent from a host side device. The retrieved data is sent to a terminal side device. The sent data is checked to see as to whether or not the sent data is data newly stored in the first storage unit. If the results of check indicate that the sent data is data newly stored in the first storage unit, the sent data is stored in a second storage unit of the terminal side device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a data sending/receiving method andapparatus, a data receiving apparatus and a data sending apparatus. Moreparticularly, it relates to a data sending/receiving method andapparatus configured for sending and receiving data, a data receivingapparatus and a data sending apparatus.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] With improvement in the technique of compressing video signals orspeech signals or in the digital signal processing technique in thefield of broadcasting or communication, it has become possible torealize services of distributing digital data, such as video on demand(VOD) or music on demand (MOD).

[0005] Up to now, as an example of service configurations of furnishingdigital data, a so-called push type service is being offered, in whichthe receiving side specifies a particular genre to the host side overthe Internet and in which the host side retrieves data falling under thegenre from a data base to sequentially transfer the retrieved data insuccession to the receiving side.

[0006] However, in the conventional data transmission/reception system,there lacks up to now a system of automatically downloading data of thenew information, put on sale or publicized only of late, on thereception side. For example, in the conventional MOD system, there lacksa system of downloading data on new musical numbers on the receptionside. In the conventional MOD system, there lacks a system forpermitting the reception side to switch between the low qualityreproduction and the high quality reproduction of data on new musicalnumbers. In addition, the conventional MOD system is no other than asystem in which a user pays fee unexceptionally for data acquisition. Onthe contrary, there has not been known to data a system in which aportion of a new musical number is heard on trial and a user pays onlythe fee for the number which has suited to his or her liking in order toacquire the data for the new musical number in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide adata sending/receiving apparatus which resolves the above-describedproblems.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a datasending/receiving method which resolves the above-described problems.

[0009] It is still another object of the present invention to provide adata reception apparatus which resolves the above-described problems.

[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide adata sending apparatus which resolves the above-described problems.

[0011] According to the present invention there is provided a datasending receiving apparatus including a first storage unit holdingplural data on memory, a retrieval unit for retrieving the data storedin the first storage unit, a first sending receiving unit for sendingdata retrieved by the retrieval unit, and a second sending receivingunit for receiving the data sent from the first sending receiving unitand for sending the request information from the user. t The firstsending receiving unit receives the request information sent from a userto supply the received request information to the retrieval unit. Thesecond sending receiving unit has a decision unit for checking whetheror not data sent from the first sending receiving unit is data newlystored in the first storage unit and a second storage unit for storingdata sent from the first sending receiving unit if the results of checkby the check unit indicates that the data is data stored in the firststorage unit.

[0012] According to the present invention there is also provided a datareceiving apparatus including a sending receiving unit for receivingdata sent from a host side device and for sending the requestinformation from the user to the host side device, a storage unit forstoring received data sent by the sending receiving unit and acontroller for checking whether or not the sent data is data newlystored in the host side device, the controller causing the sent data tobe stored in the storage unit if the results of check indicate that thesent data is data newly stored in the host side device.

[0013] According to the present invention there is also provided a datasending receiving method including the steps of retrieving plural datastored in a first storage unit based on the request information from auser sent to a host side device, sending the retrieved data to aterminal side device, checking whether or not the sent data is datanewly stored in the first storage unit and storing the sent data in asecond storage unit of the terminal side device if the results ofdiscrimination indicate that the sent data is data newly stored in thefirst storage unit.

[0014] According to the present invention there is additionally provideda data sending apparatus including a storage unit having plural datastored therein, a retrieval unit for retrieving data stored in thestorage unit based on the request information from the user containingdata specifying the user's intention to make payments sent from aterminal side device and a sending receiving unit for sending the dataretrieved by the retrieval unit. The sending receiving unit alsoreceives the request information sent from the user to send the receivedinformation to the retrieval unit. The sending receiving unit switchesthe sending mode to the terminal side device of data retrieved by theretrieval unit based on data specifying the user's intention to makepayments for the request information from the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 shows an entire structure of a data sending/receivingsystem embodying the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view for illustrating the loading of aportable terminal device on a data relaying device.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an illustrative circuitstructure of a data sending/receiving system.

[0018]FIG. 4 shows an example of a format of data sent from a datasending apparatus to a data receiving apparatus.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing by a datasending apparatus, a data relaying device and a portable terminal devicein case the designation of new musical number data is contained in thedata designation information of the request information sent from theportable terminal device to the data sending apparatus and forillustrating an example of switching the sound quality of the newmusical number data transferred by the data sending apparatus to thedata receiving apparatus.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing contents ofthe data sending apparatus, data relaying apparatus and the portableterminal device in case the data sending apparatus executes a push typeservice.

[0021]FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing an example of setting anaccounting flag for the musical data stored in a hard disc of a harddisc drive.

[0022]FIG. 8 is a perspective view for illustrating the case ofreproducing new musical number data recorded on the hard disc in theportable terminal device.

[0023]FIG. 10 is a perspective view for illustrating the portableterminal device accessing the data sending apparatus without employingthe data relaying device.

[0024]FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an alternative structure ofthe data relaying apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of a datasending receiving apparatus according to the present invention will beexplained in detail.

[0026] In the data sending/receiving apparatus, explained in thefollowing embodiment, it is assumed that music data is sent from a datasending apparatus as a host side device to a data receiving apparatus asa terminal side device.

[0027] A data sending receiving system 1 of the present invention, shownn FIG. 1, is a system for so-called music-on-demand and a data sendingdevice 2 as a terminal device on the server side is connected over acommunication network 3 to a data receiving device 4. The data receivingdevice 4 is made up of a data relaying device 5 and a portable terminaldevice 6, as a user side terminal device, detachably connected to thedata relaying device 5.

[0028] Specifically, each lateral surface of a casing of the portableterminal device 6 is loaded on a mounting portion 7 formed as a recessin a casing of the data relaying device 5 for electrically andmechanically interconnecting the data relaying device 5 and the portableterminal device 6. That is, with the data sending receiving system 1,the data sending device 2 is connected over the communication network 3to the data relaying device 5, and the data relaying device 5 isconnected to the portable terminal device 6 for interconnecting the datasending device 2 and the portable terminal device 6.

[0029] The data sending device 2 is mounted at, for example, a datamanagement center on the side of the server and exchanges dataconcerning the accounting for performing preset accounting for the user.The data relaying device 5 relays the request information from theportable terminal device 6, as later explained, to send the relayedinformation to the data sending device 2, while relaying the data sentfrom the data sending device 2 to send the relayed data to the portableterminal device 6. The data relaying device 5 is mounted on kiosk shopat a railway station, a convenience store, a public telephone box or ata home. The portable terminal device 6 is owned by each user and is aportable device convenient for transportation.

[0030] Although only one data relaying device 5 and one portableterminal device 6 are shown in FIG. 6 for convenience in illustration, aplurality of data relaying devices 5 and a plurality of portableterminal devices 6 are connected over the communication network 3 to theserver side data sending device 2.

[0031] For the communication network 3 and an accounting communicationnetwork 10, ISDN or a telephone network is used. Although the presentembodiment illustrates an embodiment in which the communication network3 and the data sending device 2 are connected by wired connection, suchas with a communication cable or an optical fiber, the wired connectionmay be replaced by radio or wireless connection. In addition, althoughthe communication network 3 and the data relaying device 5 are similarlyconnected by wired connection, such as with a communication cable or anoptical fiber, wireless connection, such as over a radio route, may alsobe used. Also, in the data sending receiving system 1, data transmissionfrom the data sending device 2 to the data receiving device 4 may be viaa communication medium, employing a broadcasting satellite, withoutemploying the communication network 3 by a wired connection. If thebroadcasting satellite is used, the communication network 3 is used forsending the request information, as later explained, from the datareceiving device 4 to the data sending device 2.

[0032] The server side data sending device 2 receives the requestinformation, as later explained, sent from the data relaying device 5over the communication network 3, to retrieve the relevant data based onthe received request information. In addition, the data sending device 2transfers the retrieved data in a preset system over the communicationnetwork 3 to the data relaying device 5 and/or to the portable terminaldevice 6.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 3, this data sending device 2 includes aninterfacing unit 11 connected over the communication network 3 to thedata relaying device 5 for data sending and reception, a large-capacityhard disc array 12, having plural data items, such as music numbers,stored therein, and a data retrieving processing unit 13 for retrievingrelevant data from this hard disc array 12. The data sending device 2also includes an accounting processing unit 14 for accessing theaccounting communication network 10 to perform preset accounting for thechargeable user and a controller 15 for controlling the data sendingdevice 2 in its entirety.

[0034] The interfacing unit 11 is connected over the communicationnetwork 3 to the data relaying device 5 to receive the requestinformation sent from the portable terminal device 6, such as the datadesignation information or the user ID information. The interfacing unit11 sends data, such as music data, outputted by the data retrievingprocessing unit 13, as later explained, via the communication network 3to the data relaying device 5. The above-mentioned operations of theinterfacing unit 11 are executed on the bases of the control signalssent from the controller 15.

[0035] In the hard disc array 12, there are stored data, such as musicaldata of various genres, guide for music, or other audio data ascompressed data. In the hard disc array 12, there are stored musicaldata concerning the new musical numbers, referred to herein as newmusical number data, along with an appended identifier, referred toherein as a new musical data identifier. The new musical number datameans musical data within a preset time period as from the date on whichit is put on sale only of late, such as within one month. The specifieddefinition of the new musical number data is appropriately determined ormodified on the host side.

[0036] The data retrieving processing unit 13 receives the requestinformation from the portable terminal device 6, received by theinterfacing unit 1, over the controller 15, and retrieves relevant datafrom the numerous data items, such as musical numbers, stored in thehard disc array 12, based on this request information. The dataretrieving processing unit 13 has a memory for transient data storageand reads out the retrieved data from the hard disc array 12 fortransient storage therein. The data retrieving processing unit 13 alsosends the data stored in the memory to the interfacing unit 11.

[0037] The data retrieving processing unit 13 also can read out only newmusical number data from the hard disc array 12 by retrieving the newmusical number identifier. The above-described operation of the dataretrieving processing unit 13 is performed on the basis of controlsignals from the controller 15.

[0038] The accounting processing unit 14 receives the requestinformation from the portable terminal device 6, received by theinterfacing unit 11, via the controller 15, and specifies the chargeableusers based on the received request information, while executing presetaccounting for the chargeable user.

[0039] The controller 15 has a sending control program for sendingmusical data relevant to the received request information to the datarelaying device 5 on the basis of the request information sent from theportable terminal device 6 via the data relaying device 5 and thecommunication network 3. The controller 15 controls the interfacing unit11, hard disc array 12, data retrieving processing unit 13 and theaccounting processing unit 14 based on this sending control program.

[0040] Specifically, the controller 15 controls the interfacing unit 11so that the request information sent from the portable terminal device 6via the data relaying device 5 and the communication network 3 isreceived and sent to the controller 15. The controller 15 transientlystores the request information supplied form the interfacing unit 11 tosend this request information to the data retrieving processing unit 13and to the accounting processing unit 14.

[0041] The controller 15 executes the above-described retrieval based onthe data designation information of the received request information toread out the retrieved data from the hard disc array 12 to store thedata transiently in the memory of the data retrieving processing unit13.

[0042] The controller 15 refers to the user ID information of thereceived request information to control, the data retrieving processingunit 13 and the interfacing unit 11 so that the data transiently storedin the memory of the data retrieving processing unit 13 is sent to theinterfacing unit 11 and data read out from the memory is sent to thedata relaying device 5 to which is connected the portable terminaldevice 6. In this manner, musical data is sent from the data sendingdevice 2 to the portable terminal device 6 in the present data sendingreceiving system 1.

[0043] In the sending control program of the controller 15 is assembleda program for offering a so-called push type service as its subroutine.The program for offering this push type service includes a genre-basedsending program for sequentially sending musical data in the relevantgenre to the portable terminal device 6 based on the genre designatinginformation used for designating the specified genre sent from theportable terminal device 6.

[0044] In the program for offering the push type services, there isassembled the new musical number data sending program for sequentiallysending only the new musical number data to the portable terminal device6 based on the new musical number request information from the portableterminal device 6 commanding transfer only of new musical number data.The control operations performed by the controller 15 in offering thesepush type services will be explained in detail subsequently.

[0045] The data sending receiving system 1 of the present embodimentuses the packet exchanging system and sends data on the data packetbasis. The format of each data packet sent from the data sending device2 to the data receiving device 4 is such a format in which music data asmain data portion is compressed with modified DCT as disclosed forexample in Japanese Laying-Open Patent H-3-139923 or JapaneseLaying-Open Patent H-3-139922 and in which a new music number flag ornumber ID is appended to the compressed data, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0046] The new musical number flag is a flag specifying whether or notthe music data as compressed data is the new musical number, and isappended as a header for each data packet. The number ID data includes,for example, music genre, name of the performing artist or the title ofthe musical number. By using the data format as shown in FIG. 4, thereis caused no inconvenience in the data sending receiving system 1 evenin case the data is sent from the data sending device 2 to the datareceiving device 4 over the broadcasting satellite or data is sent inaccordance with the push system.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 3, the data relaying device 5 includes aninterfacing unit 21, a hard disc array (HDD) 22, a read-only memory(ROM) 23, a random-access memory (RAM) 24, an operating input unit 25, adisplay unit 26, an interfacing (I/F) unit 27, a charging unit 28 and acontroller 29 comprised of a micro-computer. These elements areinterconnected over a bus 30.

[0048] The interfacing unit 21 is connected via communication network 3to the data sending device 2 to receive data sent from the data sendingdevice 2. The received data is stored transiently in the RAM 24. In thedata relaying device 5, a terminal 21 a provided on the top of a casingserves as input/output terminals of the interfacing unit 21 serves as aninput/output terminal of the interfacing unit 21.

[0049] The hard disc drive 22 includes a hard disc not shown, on whichreceived data transiently stored in the RAM 24 is recorded under controlby the controller 29.

[0050] In the ROM 23 is stored the relay control program for controllingthe operation of the data relaying device 5. In the data relaying device5, the controller 29 reads out the relay control program stored in theROM 23 to control the constituent elements of the data relaying device5.

[0051] The RAM 24 transiently stores the data sent from the data sendingdevice 2 over the communication network 3. The RAM 24 transiently storesthe request information sent from the portable terminal device 6 overthe I/F 27.

[0052] An actuating input unit 25 sends an actuation input signal to thecontroller 29 and has a plurality of actuating buttons 25 a, as shown inFIG. 2.

[0053] A display unit 26 has a liquid crystal display device and isprovided on the top of the casing, as shown in FIG. 2. This display unit26 displays the actuating input signal from the actuating buttons 25 a,data reception states from the data sending device 2 or the requestinformation from the portable terminal device 6.

[0054] The I/F 27 is an input output interface for the portable terminaldevice 6 and is connected to the I/F 31 of the portable terminal device6 to receive the request information from the portable terminal device 6via this I/F 27. The I/F 27 sends musical data sent from the datasending device 2 via I/F 31 to the portable terminal device 6. The I/F27 of the data relaying device 5 and the I/F 31 of the portable terminaldevice 6 provide for electrical connection between the data relayingdevice 5 and the portable terminal device 6 via terminal 27 a on theside of the data relaying device 5 and via terminal 31 a of the portableterminal device 6 connected to the I/F 27 and I/F 31, respectively, asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0055] The charging unit 28 is used for charging a battery 39 of theportable terminal device 6. Specifically, with the data relaying device5 being electrically connected to the portable terminal device 6, thatis with the portable terminal device 6 being loaded in position on thedata relaying device 5, an output terminal 28 a of the charging unit 28is contacted with an input terminal 39 a of the battery 39, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, to supply the current from the charging unit 28 to thebattery 39 under control by the controller 29.

[0056] The controller 29 reads out and executes the relay controlprogram stored in the RAM 23 to control the respective blocks asdescribed above.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 3, the portable terminal device 6 includes aninterface (I/F) 31, a hard disc drive (HDD) 32, a read-only memory (ROM)33, a random access memory (RAM) 34, an actuating input unit 35, adisplay unit 36, an interface (I/F) 37, a data expanding unit 38, abattery 39, a D/A controller 41 and a controller 42 made up of amicro-computer. These component parts are interconnected over a bus 40.

[0058] The I/f 31 is an input/output interface for the data relayingdevice 5 and is connected to the I/F 27 of the data relaying device 5 inorder to output the request information to the data relaying device 5.The I/F 31 receives data, such as music, from the data sending device 2,sent from the data relaying device 5 over the I/F 27. The received musicdata is transiently stored in the RAM 34.

[0059] The hard disc drive 32 includes a hard disc, not shown. The musicdata from the data sending device 2, transiently stored in the RAM 34,is recorded in this hard disc.

[0060] In the ROM 33 is stored the control program for controlling theoperation of the portable terminal device 6. The controller 42 of theportable terminal device 6 reads out the control program stored in theROM 33 to control the constituent elements of the portable terminaldevice 6.

[0061] The RAM 34 transiently stores data sent from the data relayingdevice 5 or the various data sent from the controller 42.

[0062] The actuating input unit 35 sends actuating input signals to thecontroller 42 and, as shown in FIGS. 1 an 2, is provided with variousactuating buttons 35 a to 35 d. Specifically, the actuating buttons 35 aand 35 b are selection keys for moving a cursor displayed on the displayunit 36 or selecting various functions, while the actuating key 35 c isa decision key for making decisions as to various functions. Theactuating button 35 d, made up of plural actuating keys, are made up ofvarious actuating keys for executing basic operations, such as playback,stop, pause, cue or review, for reproducing data recorded on the harddisc of the hard disc array 32. In the portable terminal device 6, theseactuating buttons are pushed to permit actuating input signalscorresponding to the thrusting to be sent over the bus 40 to thecontroller 42.

[0063] The display unit 36 has a liquid crystal display device and isprovided on the upper part of the major surface of the casing, as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2. This display unit 36 is responsive to an actuatinginput signal from the actuating input unit 25 derived from the pushingactuation of the actuating buttons 35 a to 35 d to display the requestinformation generated by the controller 42, reception states from thedata sending device 2 or the connection states with the data relayingdevice 5.

[0064] The I/F 37 is an input/output interface for an externalinput/output device, such as a keyboard, modem or display. The lowerpart on the lateral surface of the casing of the portable terminaldevice 6 is provided with a connection terminal 37 a for interconnectingthe I/F 37 with the external input/output device, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0065] The data expanding unit 38 expands musical data, that iscompressed data, read out from the RAM 34 or the hard disc drive 32.

[0066] The battery 39 furnishes the source voltage to the respectiveconstituent elements of the portable terminal device 6 and may be arepeatedly rechargeable secondary cell, for example, a nickel cadmiumcell, nickel hydrogen cell or lithium ion cell. In the presentembodiment, the battery 39 is automatically charged by the voltagesupplied from the charging unit 28 of the data relaying device 5 whenthe portable terminal device 6 is connected to the data relaying device5.

[0067] The D/A controller 41 converts digital signals outputted by thedata expanding unit 38 into analog playback signals. The playbacksignals generated after conversion by the D/A controller 41 are sent tothe terminal 41 a so as to be outputted as speech or as music via anexternal speaker 43 connected to the terminal 41 a.

[0068] The controller 42 reads out the control program stored in the ROM33 to execute the read-out program to output a control signal torespective blocks of the portable terminal device 6 to execute pre-setprocessing. Specifically, the controller 42 generates the requestinformation based on the actuation input signals from the actuatinginput unit 35 to send the request information to the data relayingdevice 5 by way of a control operation. The controller 42 also outputsthe data stored in the RAM 34 via data expanding unit 38 and D/Acontroller 41 to an external speaker 43 by way of a playback operation.The controller 42 furnishes the data stored in the RAM 34 to the harddisc drive 32 for storage in the hard discs held therein.

[0069] The request information sent by the portable terminal device 6 tothe data sending device 2 may be exemplified by the user ID information,data designation information for specifying data desired to be acquired,and the accounting information specifying whether or not the user isintending to make corresponding payments. The user ID information ispreviously stored in the memory in the controller 42 in order togenerate the user ID information automatically.

[0070] In order for the data sending device 2 to execute theabove-mentioned genre-based sending program, it suffices if the genredesignation information for specifying the genre of musical data desiredto be acquired is sent to the data sending device 2 in place of the datadesignation information of the request information. In order for thedata sending device 2 to execute the above-mentioned new musical numberdata sending program, it suffices if the new musical number informationfor requesting only the new musical number data to be transferred issent to the data sending device 2 in place of the data designatinginformation. At this time, the above-mentioned genre designationinformation may be sent simultaneously with the new musical numberrequest information in order to acquire only new musical number data inthe specified genre.

[0071] The basic operation in the respective devices when the useracquires music data in accordance with the so-called MOD system in thepresent data sending receiving system 1 is hereinafter explained. Theuser acts on the actuating buttons 35 a to 35 d of the actuating inputunit 35 a of the portable terminal device 6 to designate one or moredesired data. If new musical number data is contained in the specifieddata, the above-mentioned accounting information is entered to decidewhether or not to make payments. The portable terminal device 6 thengenerates the request information including the accounting informationby the controller 42. This request information is stored in the RAM 34.

[0072] For designating the data, it suffices if the schematics and alist of data registered in the hard disc array 12 of the data sendingdevice 2 are stored as a data base menu in the ROM 33 or in the RAM 34and desired data is selected from this data base menu by actuation ofthe actuating buttons 35 a to 35 d. At this time point, the portableterminal device 6 need not be connected to the data relaying device 5.

[0073] If the portable terminal device 6, in which the requestinformation has been generated as described above, is loaded on themounting portion 7 of the data relaying device 5, and the controller 29of the data relaying device 5 detects that the portable terminal device6 has been loaded in position, the controller 29 of the data relayingdevice 5 reads out the relay control program from the ROM 23 to executethe read-out program. This connects the portable terminal device 6 viadata relaying device 5 and the communication network 3 to the datasending device 2. In the data sending receiving system 1, the requestinformation stored in the RAM 34 is sent from the I/F 31 to the datarelaying device 5 under control by the controller 42. The data relayingdevice 5 which has received the request information from the portableterminal device 6 sends this request information via communicationnetwork 3 to the data sending device 2 under control by the controller29.

[0074] In the data sending device 2, the request information sent fromthe device 5 is entered to the interfacing unit 11, the requestinformation entering the interfacing unit 11 being then sent to thecontroller 15 and to the data retrieving processing unit 13. The dataretrieving processing unit 13 refers to the data designation informationof the request information to retrieve and read out the correspondingdata from the hard disc array 12. The controller 15 controls theinterfacing unit 11 to send the data read out from the hard disc array12 via communication network 3 to the data relaying device 5 based onthe request information. The music data read out from the hard discarray 12, that is the music data designated by the user, is received bythe data relaying device 5. The controller 15 discriminates, based onthe user ID information in the request information, whether or not theuser of the portable terminal device 6 is the user who can use the datasending receiving system 1, and permits only the user capable of usingthe data sending receiving system 1 to perform the operations indicatedin the flowcharts of FIG. 5ff.

[0075] The controller 29 of the data relaying device 5 which hasreceived the data controls the respective blocks so that the receiveddata will be sent to the portable terminal device 6. Specifically, thecontroller 29 sends data entering the modem 21 via I/F 27 to theportable terminal device 6, while causing the data to be stored on thehard disc of the hard disc drive 22. This permits the data to bebacked-up by the hard disc drive 22 even if the data relaying device 5is disconnected from the portable terminal device 6 during data sending.

[0076] The basic operation in the respective devices when the useracquires new musical number data in the data sending receiving system 11is explained with reference to the flowcharts.

[0077]FIG. 5 shows that plural data is designated in the datadesignating information of the request information sent by the portableterminal device 6 to the data sending device 2. Specifically, FIG. 5 isa flowchart showing processing contents of t the data sending device 2,data relaying device 5 and the portable terminal device 6 in case thedesignation of new musical number data is contained in this datadesignation information. That is, this flowchart shows a typicalprocessing of switching the sending mode when the data sending device 2sends data to the data receiving device 4 depending on the possiblepresence of accounting for the new musical number data.

[0078] The controller 15 of the data sending device 2 having receivedthe request information refers to the data designation information ofthe request information at step s1 to control the data retrievingprocessing unit 13 to retrieve and read out data designated by the userfrom the hard disc array 12.

[0079] At the next step S2, the controller 15 verifies whether or notdata read out from the hard disc array 12 is the new musical number flagexplained with reference to FIG. 4, based on the new musical numberdata. If the result of check at step S2 is YES, that is if the data isthe new musical number data, the flow moves to step S3. If the result isNO, that is if the data is found not to be the new musical number data,the flow moves to step S5.

[0080] At step S3, the controller 15 refers to the payment informationof the request information to check whether or not the user is willingto make payments for the new musical number data. If the result of checkat step S3 is YES, that is if it is found that the user is willing tomake payments for the new musical number data, the flow moves to stepS4. If the result of check at step S3 is NO, that is if it is found thatthe user is not willing to make payments for the new musical numberdata, the flow moves to step S6.

[0081] At step S4, the controller 15 controls the accounting processingunit 14 to execute preset accounting for the new musical number databefore the flow moves to step S5.

[0082] At step S5, the controller 15 switches to the sending mode ofsending the new musical number data or other musical data, for whichaccounting has been made, to the data receiving device 4 with the samesound quality, that is with high sound quality, and executes dataprocessing matched to the mode, before proceeding to step S7. On theother hand, the controller 15 at step S5 switches to the sending mode ofsending the new musical number data for which the user is not willing tomake payments with a sound quality lower than that of other musicaldata, executes data processing matched to the mode, before proceeding tostep S7. If new musical number data is sent at step S5 or S7, a newmusical number flag is set in a header of each data packet beforesending the data packet.

[0083] As for the processing at steps S5 and S6, the new musical numberdata or other data, read out from the hard disc array 12 is directlysent at step S5, while new musical number data is converted at theprocessing at step S6 to audio data which is sent directly or afterlimiting the S/N ratio or the frequency range of the new musical numberdata. It is also possible to send only new musical number data for onechorus without degrading the sound quality of the new musical numberdata.

[0084] By executing the processing at step S6, it is possible for thedata sending device 2 to send new musical number data as sample data tothe user failing or not willing to make payments.

[0085] The data sent in this manner from the data sending device 2 isreceived by the data relaying device 5 at step S7 and sent to theportable terminal device 6 under control by the controller 29 of thedata relaying device 5.

[0086] The portable terminal device 6 on reception of data from the datarelaying device 5 at step S8 detects the new musical number flag of theheader of each data packet shown in FIG. 4 by the controller 42 to checkat step S9 whether or not the data is the new musical number data. Ifthe result of check at S9 is YES, that is if the data is found to be thenew musical number data, the flow moves to step S10 and, if otherwise,the flow moves to step S11.

[0087] The controller 42 allows the new musical number data to besupplied to the hard disc drive 32 at step S10 to control the data to bestored in the hard disc in the hard disc drive 32.

[0088] The controller 42 performs control at the next step S11 to sendthe new musical number data or other data to the data expanding unit 38to expand the data to sequentially reproduce the data. This permits theportable terminal device 6 to sequentially reproduce the data requestedby the user and to record only the new musical number data automaticallyon the hard disc. On the portable terminal device 6, the new musicalnumber data for which payment has been made can be heard with the samesound quality as that of other musical data, while the new musicalnumber data for which payment has not been made can be heard as dataprocessed at step S6, that is as so-called sample data.

[0089]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the datasending device 2, data relaying device 5 and the portable terminaldevice 6 in case the data sending device 2 performs so-called push typeservices similar to broadcasting. In this flowchart, the portableterminal device 6 designates a specified music genre to permit the datasending device 2 to start the above-mentioned genre-based sendingprogram to sequentially send the music data of the specified genre tothe data receiving device 4.

[0090] The controller 15 of the data sending device 2 on reception ofthe genre designation information refers at step S2 to the genredesignation information of the request information to control the dataretrieving processing unit 13 to sequentially retrieve and read out themusic data in the specified genre from the hard disc array 12. In thiscase, the read-out musical data contains not only the new musical numberdata but also other music data.

[0091] At the next step S22, the controller 15 performs control to sendthe read-out musical data sequentially to the data receiving device 4.It should be noted that, when sending the new musical number data, a newmusical number flag is set in the header of each data packet beforesending the data.

[0092] The musical data sent from the data sending device 2 is receivedat step S23 by the data relaying device 5 and thence sent to theportable terminal device 6 under control by the controller 29 of thedata relaying device 5.

[0093] The portable terminal device 6 on reception of the musical datafrom the data relaying device 5 at step S24 detects the new musicalnumber flag of the header of the packet of each data packet shown inFIG. 4 to check whether or not the data is the new musical number data(step S25). If the result of check at step S25 is YES, that is if thedata is found to be the new musical number data, the flow moves to stepS26 and, if otherwise, the flow moves to step S27.

[0094] The controller 42 at step S26 sends the new musical number datato the hard disc drive 32 to control the hard disc drive 32 to recordthe data on the hard disc in the hard disc drive 32.

[0095] The controller 42 performs control at step S27 to send the newmusical number data or other musical data to the data expanding unit 38to expand the data to sequentially reproduce the data. Thus, in theportable terminal device 6, the musical data of the genre specified bythe user is sequentially reproduced, while only the new musical numberdata is automatically recorded on the hard disc.

[0096] At the next step S28, the controller 42 is in a state of waitingfor an input indicating whether the payment should be made for each newmusical number data recorded on the hard disc of the hard disc drive 32.If the result of check at step S28 is YES, that is if an input indicatesthat payment should be made, the reproducing state is switched to permitthe new musical number data to be reproduced with the same high qualityas that of the other music data to execute the processing of step S29.If the result of check at step S28 is NO, that is if an input indicatesthat payment is not made, the reproducing state is terminated, on theassumption that the user is not willing to reproduce data with highsound quality.

[0097] The controller 15 of the data sending device 2, which hasreceived this request information, controls the accounting processingunit 14 at step S30 to make preset payment for the specified new musicalnumber data.

[0098] After completion of the sending of the request information, thecontroller 42 of the portable terminal device 6 performs control at stepS31 to set an accounting flag indicating the end of accounting for themusical data stored in the hard disc of the hard disc drive 32. Thisprocessing is performed by appending a flag to the leading end of thedata, rewriting file allocation table (FAT) data or directory data ofthe hard disc or by providing the controller 42 with a table for datanames of the music data stored in the hard disc and by setting a pointerin this table, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0099] It is also possible to provide a new step between the step S30and the step S31, to send data indicating the end of the accounting fromthe data sending device 2 to the portable terminal device 6 when theaccounting at step S30 comes to a close and to execute the processing ofstep S31 by the portable terminal device 6 detecting this data.

[0100] By the above processing, an accounting flag is set on only thoseof the new musical number data recorded in the hard disc of the harddisc drive 32 for which the payment has been made.

[0101] In the above description, it is assumed that the data sendingdevice 2 has started the genre-based sending program by the portableterminal device 6 sending the genre-based designation information.However, similar processing may be used when the data sending device 2starts the new musical number data sending program by the portableterminal device 6 sending the above-mentioned new musical number requestinformation. It this case, it suffices if the controller 15 of the datasending device 2 having received the new musical number requestinformation retrieves the new musical number identifier to sequentiallyretrieve and read out new musical number data from the hard disc array12.

[0102] If the controller 15 also receives the genre designationinformation along with the new musical number request information, itsuffices if the data retrieving processing unit 13 is controlled at stepS21 to sequentially retrieve and read out new musical number data of thegenre specified by the user. If the data sending device 2 executes thisnew musical number data sending program, the processing of step S25 forchecking on the side of the portable terminal device 6 if the data isthe new musical number data based on the new musical number flag isunnecessary.

[0103] The playback processing for reproducing the acquired new musicalnumber data for the case of reproducing new musical number data recordedon the hard disc of the hard disc drive 32 on the present portableterminal device 6 is explained with reference to the flowchart shown inFIG. 6. In this case, the portable terminal device 6 is taken out of thedata relaying device 5 and a headphone 44 is connected to the terminal41 a. This allows the user to hear the music of the new musical numberdata corresponding to the acquired new musical number data as the usercarries the portable terminal device 6. The playback processing for newmusical number data by the portable terminal device 6 is explained withreference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9.

[0104] At step S41 at the time of transfer to the new musical numberdata reproducing mode, the controller 42 of the portable terminal device6 is in a state of waiting for a playback request for new musical numberdata. An actuation input signal, specifying the playback request, iskept at this step S41 until the actuation input signal specifying theplayback request is supplied from the actuating input unit 35, with theactuation input signal transferring to step S42 when a playback requestis issued. Specifically, at step S41, all data names of the new musicalnumber data stored on the hard disc are displayed on the display unit 36and the user then selects and decides one or more of the new musicalnumber data desired to be reproduced by the user acting on one of theactuating buttons 35 a to 35 d of the actuating input unit 35.

[0105] At step S42, the controller 42 checks whether or not theaccounting flag shown in FIG. 7 has been set on new musical number datarequested to be reproduced. At step S43, the new musical number datafound at step S42 to be that for which the accounting flag is set (YES)is processed before the flow moves to step S45. The new musical numberdata found at step S42 to be that for which no accounting flag has beenset (NO) is processed at step S44 before the flow moves to step S45.

[0106] At step S43, the controller 42 switches the playback state of theportable terminal device 6 to a high quality playback mode. Conversely,at step S44, the controller 42 switches the playback state of theportable terminal device 6 to a low quality playback mode. Examples ofthe reproducing processing of the low quality reproducing mode includeexecuting data expansion at a lower data expansion rate than that usedfor expansion processing for the high quality reproducing mode,executing monaural reproduction if the new musical number data is stereomusical data or limiting the reproducing time such as reproducing onlyone chorus of the new musical number data.

[0107] At step S45, the controller 42 controls the data expanding unit38 so that the new musical number data will be reproduced in accordancewith the playback mode as set or with the reproducing state. The datasending receiving system 1 then reproduces the new musical number datarecorded on the hard disc of the hard disc drive 32 in such a mannerthat high quality reproduction is made as other musical data if themusical data as new musical number data with the accounting flag set isreproduced, while reproduction at a lower sound quality than inreproducing other musical data as at step S44 is made by way of asample-wise reproduction if the musical data as new musical number datadevoid of the accounting flag set is reproduced.

[0108] At the next step, the end waiting state is set in order to waitfor termination of the reproducing operation. Thus, control dwells atthis step S46 until the reproducing processing on all designated newmusical number data comes to a close and, if the data reproducingoperation comes to a close, control reverts to step s41 to repeat theprocessing from step S41 to step S46.

[0109] That is, if the new musical number data stored on the hard discof the hard disc drive 32 is to be reproduced with the present datasending receiving system 1, and the new musical number data to bereproduced is the new musical number data with the accounting flag set,high quality reproduction is executed as in the case of other musicaldata. If the new musical number data reproduced is that devoid of theaccounting flag as set, sample-wise reproduction with a lower soundquality than in reproducing other musical data is executed. Thus, newmusical number data for which payment has not been made can be heardrepeatedly for trial sake. If there is any musical number data that hassuited to the liking of the user as a result of tentative hearing, thecorresponding new musical number data that can be reproduced with highsound quality similarly to other musical data can be acquired by theprocessing explained with reference to FIG. 5.

[0110] In the above-described embodiment, the portable terminal device 6and the data sending device 2 are interconnected via data relayingdevice 5. It is however possible to interconnect a modem 46 accessibleto the communication network 3 to the I/F 37 shown in FIG. 3 viaconnection terminal 37 a of the portable terminal device 6 tointerconnect the portable terminal device 6 and the data sending device2 without interposition of the data relaying device 5, as shown in FIG.10. In this case, it is also possible to interconnect a keyboard 45 or adisplay 47 to the connection terminal 37 a for convenience in theinputting or display operations.

[0111] In the above-described embodiment, there is shown a data relayingdevice interconnecting a sole portable terminal device 6 with the datasending device 2. The present invention is, however, not limited to thisspecified constitution. For example, a data relaying device 50 capableof interconnecting plural portable terminal devices 6, as shown in FIG.11. Specifically, the data relaying device 50 includes plural mountingportions 7 for connecting to the portable terminal devices 6 on a baseblock of the device 50 and a corresponding plural number of actuatingbuttons 25 a and display units 26. That is, with the present datarelaying devices 50, the blocks 22 to 30 making up the data relayingdevice 50 are provided internally so that a number of users can acquirenew musical number data or musical data at a time.

[0112] In the above-described embodiment, musical data for a new musicalnumber that is on the market only for a pre-set period since it wasfirst put on the market, such as for one month. The present inventionis, however, not limited to this and any musical data not received bythe user as yet, that is musical data that is new musical number datafor the user, may be defined as new musical number data.

[0113] In this case, it suffices if the index information of data storedin the hard disc drive 32 of the current portable terminal device 6 issent along with the above-mentioned request data to the data sendingdevice 2 in order for the data sending device 2 to check if theinformation is the new information to permit only musical data notstored in the hard disc drive 32 of the portable terminal device 6 to besent to the portable terminal device 6. It is also possible for theportable terminal device 6 to compare the data stored in the hard discdrive 32 to the data sent from the data sending device 2 in order torecord only musical data not stored in the hard disc drive 32.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data sending receiving apparatus comprising: afirst storage unit holding plural data on memory; a retrieval unit forretrieving the data stored in said first storage unit; a first sendingreceiving unit for sending data retrieved by said retrieval unit, saidfirst sending receiving unit receiving the request information sent froma user and supplying the received request information to said retrievalunit; and a second sending receiving unit for receiving the data sentfrom said first sending receiving unit and for sending the requestinformation from the user, said second sending receiving unit having adecision unit for checking whether or not data sent from said firstsending receiving unit is data newly stored in said first storage unitand a second storage unit for storing data sent from said first sendingreceiving unit if the results of check by said check unit indicates thatthe data is data stored in said first storage unit.
 2. The data sendingreceiving apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second sendingreceiving unit further includes a reproducing unit and wherein, if theresults of check by said decision unit indicates data other than datanewly stored in said first storage unit, said second sending receivingunit reproduces the data sent from the first sending receiving unit bysaid reproducing unit.
 3. The data sending receiving apparatus accordingto claim 1 wherein said first sending receiving unit when sending dataretrieved by said retrieval unit appends supplementary data indicatingthat the data is data newly stored in said first storage unit if datasent is the the data newly stored in said first storage unit.
 4. Thedata sending receiving apparatus according to claim 3 wherein saiddecision unit checks whether or not data sent from said first storageunit is data newly stored in said first storage unit.
 5. The datasending receiving apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said secondsending receiving unit generates the request information form the userinclusive of data specifying the user's intention to make payment tosend the generated information to said first sending receiving unit. 6.The data sending receiving apparatus according to claim 5 wherein saidfirst sending receiving unit switches the sending mode to said secondsending receiving unit of data retrieved by said retrieval unit based ondata specifying the user's intention to make payment sent from thesecond sending receiving unit.
 7. The data sending receiving apparatusaccording to claim 6 wherein said first sending receiving unit switchesthe sending mode to the second sending receiving unit based on dataspecifying the user's intention to make payment sent from the secondsending receiving unit if data retrieved by said retrieval unit is datanewly stored in said first sending receiving unit.
 8. The data sendingreceiving apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first sendingreceiving unit sends to said second sending receiving unit data newlystored in said first sending receiving unit with the same data qualityas that in sending other data stored in said first storage unit if dataspecifying the user's intention to make payments for the requestinformation from the user sent from the second sending receiving unitindicates that the user is willing to make the payments.
 9. The datasending receiving apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said firstsending receiving unit sends to said second sending receiving unit datanewly stored in said first sending receiving unit with the data qualitylower than that in sending other data stored in said first storage unitif data specifying the user's intention to make payments for the requestinformation from the user sent from the second sending receiving unitindicates that the user is not willing to make the payments.
 10. Thedata sending receiving apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidsecond sending receiving unit generates the request information from theuser inclusive of the genre designation information to send thegenerated information to said first sending receiving unit.
 11. The datasending receiving apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said secondsending receiving unit when reproducing data stored in said secondstorage unit reproduces the data in the same playback state as that forreproducing data other than the data newly stored in said first storageunit if the user is willing to make the payment.
 12. The data sendingreceiving apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said second sendingreceiving unit when reproducing data stored in said second storage unitsends the information concerning the payment to said first sendingreceiving unit if the user is willing to make the payment.
 13. The datasending receiving apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said firstsending receiving unit performs accounting based on the accountinginformation sent from said second sending receiving unit.
 14. The datasending receiving apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said firstsending receiving unit sends to said second sending receiving unit dataspecifying that the accounting has come toa close and appends accountingdata specifying that effect to data for playback stored in the secondstorage unit based on data specifying that the accounting has come to aclose.
 15. The data sending receiving apparatus according to claim 14wherein said second sending receiving unit switches the reproducingstate of data stored in said second storage unit based on saidaccounting data.
 16. The data sending receiving apparatus according toclaim 11 wherein said second sending receiving unit discontinues thereproducing state if, when reproducing data stored in said secondstorage unit, the user has no intention to make payments.
 17. The datasending receiving apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said firstsending receiving unit sends to the retrieving unit the requestinformation from the user containing the genre designation informationsent from the second sending receiving unit, and wherein said retrievalunit retrieves data stored in said first storage unit based on therequest information from the user containing the genre designationinformation to send the retrieved data to the second sending receivingunit.
 18. A data receiving apparatus comprising: a sending receivingunit for receiving data sent from a host side device and for sending therequest information from the user to said host side device; a storageunit for storing received data sent by said sending receiving unit; anda controller for checking whether or not the sent data is data newlystored in said host side device, said controller causing the sent datato be stored in said storage unit if the results of check indicate thatthe sent data is data newly stored in said host side device.
 19. Thedata receiving apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising: areproducing unit; said controller causing the sent data to be reproducedby said reproducing unit if the results of check indicate that the sentdata is data other than data newly stored in said host side device. 20.The data receiving apparatus according to claim 19 wherein saidcontroller further includes a check unit for checking whether or not thesent data is data newly stored in said host side device.
 21. The datareceiving apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said controllerdiscriminates, based on the supplementary data appended to the sent datafor indicating that the data is data newly stored in the host sidedevice, whether or not the sent data is data newly stored in the hostside device.
 22. The data receiving apparatus according to claim 18wherein said sending receiving unit generates the request informationfrom the user containing data specifying the user's intention to makepayments to send the generated data to said host side device.
 23. Thedata receiving apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said sendingreceiving unit generates the request information from the usercontaining the genre designation information to send the generatedinformation to said host side device.
 24. The data receiving apparatusaccording to claim 23 wherein if, when data stored in said storage unitis to be reproduced, the user has the intention to make payments, thedata is reproduced in a reproducing state similar to that forreproducing data other than said data newly stored in said host sidedevice.
 25. The data receiving apparatus according to claim 24 whereinif, when data stored in said storage unit is to be reproduced, the userhas the intention to make payments, the accounting information is sentfrom said sending receiving unit to said host side device.
 26. The datareceiving apparatus according to claim 25 wherein, after accountingcomes to a close on the basis of the accounting information, accountingdata specifying that the accounting has come to a close is appended todata for playback stored in said storage unit.
 27. The data receivingapparatus according to claim 26 wherein the playback state of datastored in said storage unit is switched based on said accounting data.28. The data receiving apparatus according to claim 24 wherein if, whenreproducing data stored in said storage unit, the user has no intentionto make payments, the reproducing state is discontinued.
 29. A datasending receiving method comprising the steps of: retrieving plural datastored in a first storage unit based on the request information from auser sent to a host side device; sending the retrieved data to aterminal side device; checking whether or not the sent data is datanewly stored in said first storage unit; and storing the sent data in asecond storage unit of said terminal side device if the results ofdiscrimination indicate that the sent data is data newly stored in saidfirst storage unit.
 30. The data sending receiving method according toclaim 29 wherein, if the results of discrimination indicate that thesent data is data other than data newly stored in said first storageunit, the sent data is reproduced by said terminal side device.
 31. Thedata sending receiving method according to claim 29 wherein if, when theretrieved data is sent, the sent data is data newly stored in said firststorage unit, supplementary data specifying that the sent data is datanewly stored in said first storage unit is appended to the sent data andresulting data is sent.
 32. The data sending receiving method accordingto claim 31 wherein the sent data is checked on the basis of thesupplementary data as to whether the sent data is data newly stored insaid first storage unit.
 33. The data sending receiving method accordingto claim 29 wherein the request information from the user containingdata specifying the user's intention to make payments is generated andsent from said terminal side device to said host side device.
 34. Thedata sending receiving method according to claim 33 wherein the sendingmode of the retrieved data is switched on the basis of data specifyingthe user's intention to make payments for the request information sentfrom the portable terminal device.
 35. The data sending receiving methodaccording to claim 33 wherein the sending mode of the retrieved data isswitched on the basis of data sent from the terminal side devicespecifying the user's intention to make payments for the requestinformation in case the retrieved data is data newly stored in saidfirst storage unit.
 36. The data sending receiving method according toclaim 35 wherein, if the data sent from the terminal side devicespecifying the user's intention to make payments for the requestinformation sent from the terminal side device specifies that the userhas the intention of making payments, data newly stored in said firststorage unit is sent to said terminal side device with the same dataquality as that of other data stored in said first storage unit andsent.
 37. The data sending receiving method according to claim 36wherein, if the data sent from the terminal side device specifying theuser's intention to make payments for the request information sent fromthe terminal side device specifies that the user has no intention ofmaking payments, data newly stored in said first storage unit is sent tosaid terminal side device with the data quality inferior to that ofother data stored in said first storage unit and sent.
 38. The datasending receiving method according to claim 29 wherein the requestinformation from the user containing the genre designation informationis generated and sent to said host side device.
 39. The data sendingreceiving method according to claim 38 wherein if, when data stored insaid storage unit is to be reproduced, the user has the intention tomake payments, the data is reproduced in a reproducing state similar tothat in reproducing data other than said data newly stored in said hostside device.
 40. The data receiving method according to claim 39 whereinif, when data stored in said storage unit is to be reproduced, the userhas the intention to make payments, the accounting information is sentto said host side device.
 41. The data sending receiving methodaccording to claim 40 wherein accounting is executed on the basis of theaccounting information sent from the terminal side device.
 42. The datasending receiving method according to claim 41 wherein data specifyingthat the accounting has come to a close is sent to said terminal sidedevice and wherein said terminal side device appends accounting dataspecifying that the accounting has come to a close to data for playbackstored in said second storage unit based on data specifying that theaccounting has come to a close.
 43. The data sending receiving methodaccording to claim 42 wherein the reproducing state of data stored insaid second storage unit is switched based on said accounting data. 44.The data receiving apparatus according to claim 39 wherein if, whenreproducing data stored in said second storage unit, the user has nointention to make payments, the reproducing state is discontinued. 45.The data receiving apparatus according to claim 38 wherein data storedin the first storage unit is retrieved on the basis of the requestinformation from the user containing the genre designation informationsent from the terminal side device and wherein the retrieved data issent to said terminal side device.
 46. A data sending apparatuscomprising: a storage unit having plural data stored therein; aretrieval unit for retrieving data stored in said storage unit based onthe request information from the user containing data specifying theuser's intention to make payments sent from a terminal side device; anda sending receiving unit for sending the data retrieved by saidretrieval unit, said sending receiving unit receiving the requestinformation sent from the user to send the received information to saidretrieval unit, said sending receiving unit switching the sending modeto said terminal side device of data retrieved by said retrieval unitbased on data specifying the user's intention to make payments for therequest information from the user.
 47. The data sending apparatusaccording to claim 46 wherein said sending receiving unit switches thesending mode to said terminal side device based on data specifying theuser's intention to make payments for the request information from theuser sent from the terminal side device if the data retrieved by saidretrieval unit is data newly stored in said storage unit.
 48. The datasending apparatus according to claim 47 wherein, if the data sent fromthe terminal side device specifying the user's intention to makepayments for the request information sent from the terminal side devicespecifies that the user has the intention of making payments, data newlystored in said storage unit is sent to said terminal side device withthe same data quality as that of other data stored in said storage unitand sent.
 49. The data sending apparatus according to claim 48 wherein,if the data sent from the terminal side device specifying the user'sintention to make payments for the request information sent from theterminal side device specifies that the user has no intention of makingpayments, data newly stored in said storage unit is sent to saidterminal side device with the data quality inferior to that of otherdata stored in said storage unit and sent.